Water mite larvae (Hydrachnidia, Arrenurus) parasitism of Anopheles albimanus and An. vestitipennis in a Mexican Neotropical region, including parasite descriptions.

Parasitic interactions between water mite larvae (Acari: Hydrachnidia) and mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) remain poorly understood, especially in the Neotropical region. Given the medical significance of mosquito hosts, this ecological relationship has garnered attention for its potential to contribute to natural population regulation and influence mosquito vectorial capacity. However, accurate species identification is essential to deepen our understanding of this interaction. In this study, a total of 565 female Anopheles albimanus and 216 Anopheles vestitipennis were collected in Quintana Roo, Mexico, as part of vector-borne disease prevention and control activities. A total of 26 water mite larvae were recorded, from the 21 parasitized mosquitoes, yielding a prevalence of 2.83% in An. albimanus and 2.31% in An. vestitipennis. To identify the mite specimens, we employed a combination of morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and DNA barcoding, leveraging previously constructed DNA libraries from the region. The water mites were identified as Arrenurus sp. and Arrenurus federicoi. This study represents the first record of these mosquito species being parasitized by water mites in the Neotropical region. Furthermore, it is the first to employ a multifaceted approach, incorporating both DNA analysis and morphology, to accurately identify both the mosquito host and the parasitic water mite larva.